Dummy Game Box + More Ebook Downloads!

As you can see in today's video, we've received dummy copies of the game from the manufacturer! Dummies are unprinted, blank versions of all the cards, boxes, and booklets, used to verify all the dimensions, paper stocks, making sure everything fits together correctly, etc. This one on the top is the Sidecar Box, so it's just cards. The base game box contains manuals, the die, the timer, the notepad, and the "Fate Coin" wooden token.

If all goes well, we should see an actual printed proof of the complete game in just a couple weeks! And once that's approved, the manufacturer will give us an estimated production and delivery schedule, which I will pass on to you once it's all confirmed.

THIS IS HOW YOU DIE short film premieres Monday!

While I've been working finalizing the video files, my friend Michael Mohan (who has been behind the camera on all of these updates) has been working hard making a THIS IS HOW YOU DIE short film! I'm pleased to announce that it'll be premiering Monday, July 8 on Funny Or Die. It's designed to be a great introduction to the Machine of Death concept in general, so hopefully it'll encourage everyone to preorder the new book! Which you can, you know, do right now! If you want to!

Here are some stills from the piece:

Can't wait for you guys to see it!!

Wondermark Ebook Download

You, collectively, hit all the stretch goals I put in front of you, so it's time to roll out some more cool stuff to reward you! First up is the ebook version of my Wondermark book Beards of our Forefathers. This was my first Wondermark collection with Dark Horse Comics, and it went on to be nominated for the Eisner Award (the highest honor in comics) for "Best Humor Publication."

The actual winner of the Eisner that year ended up being a reprint of comics from the 70's! Shucks. Still, I was very pleased to accept the Unofficial Eisner, which is invisible, and which sits proudly on my bookshelf. Or is it on my mantel? I keep misplacing it.

Awards or no, I'm super proud of this book and think it's got a lot of good laughs in it. One thing I like to do with books in general is play with the physical printed form – for example, this book has parts where you are instructed to hold a page up to the light to read something written on the other side. But you should still be able to puzzle it out in ebook form (and don't worry, that part is pretty minor).

As you can see from the picture above, this book was first issued as a gorgeous hardcover, and it's been out of print for about a year now. But I'm pleased to announce that just last week I received inventory of a brand-new paperback reprint of this book, in case you'd like to check it out in print! It's available right now in my online store for just $10, or there are combo packs available.

The ebook download will follow shortly in a backer-only update!

826LA Ebook Download

As you may recall, we had a SECRET STRETCH GOAL that involved a benefit to our friends at 826LA. BUT we also wanted to make sure that all goals we reached during the campaign – secret or not – earned you, the kind backer, more free stuff!

So please enjoy a free ebook download of one of 826LA's student chapbooks,The More You Ignore Me The Closer I Get. The 826LA chapbooks are all collections of stories and essays on a certain theme, written by kids aged 6-18 as part of the tutoring program. In this book, the kids wrote stories inspired by the title of a Smiths song chosen at random.

No, most of the kids had never heard the song they were writing about. That is what makes this book GREAT. Here is a video of me talking with staffers Danny Hom and Birte Klug about the creation of this book!

If you enjoy reading the chapbook as much as I did, it's one of the many, many $5 student publications available in the 826LA online store (including one that I drew the cover to, She Was an Excellent Student, Mrs. Triceratops! That one is about DINOSAURS).

And as you may recall, any purchases made from the 826LA online store, of any item, will also come with a bonus MOD game card absolutely free! (You can probably get the game cards in person too, at the Time Travel Mart storefronts in either Mar Vista or Echo Park.)

The ebook download will follow shortly in a backer-only update!

THIS IS HOW YOU DIE x 826LA Comedy Night

Speaking of 826LA, just a couple weeks ago we held a comedy benefit event at their center in Mar Vista. Mike cut together a super cool highlight reel from the night, and we've posted it over on the MOD blog right here. Below, our cartoonist friend Keith Knight attempts to play a game of Machine of Death Draw & Guess at the event.

Booth 1229 at Comic-Con!

THIS IS HOW YOU DIE will have its official premiere at the San Diego Comic-Con in just two weeks! Co-editor Ryan North and I will be at the TopatoCo booth, #1229. To remember the booth number, just think "1-2-3-4" – we're like 10 feet away from that booth. If you'll be at Comic-Con, come by and say hello! The book actually will be on sale at a different booth, but we can DIRECT YOU THERE. Kris will be at the show too, just up the way at #1235!

More soon! I'll post again when our video hits Funny or Die on Monday. Thanks everyone!